St Patrick's Academy can stay on a high

By John Campbell

The competition may have encountered a hiccup last week-end when the weather took its toll of fixtures but tomorrow three quarter-finals in the Bank of Ireland MacRory Cup are scheduled - and all are in Tyrone, too.

Holders St Patrick’s Academy Dungannon are geared up for what looks like being a titanic tussle with St Michael’s College Enniskillen, coached by former Fermanagh and Sligo manager Dominic Corrigan.

The match goes on at Clogher at 2.30pm and immediately afterwards the draw for the semi-finals will take place.

Earlier tomorrow, Omagh CBS and St Patrick’s GS Armagh will cross swords again, this time at Ardboe (11.30am) where the Omagh outfit may just hold sway against Mattie McGleenan’s boys.

St Patrick’s fell to the Omagh outfit last year after a replay and are anxious to advance to the last four this time.

Also tomorrow morning St Patrick’s College Maghera and St Colman’s College Newry will lock horns at Edendork (11.30am) both sharing a desire to rekindle the glory they enjoyed in the competition in the not too distant past.

Maghera were a dominant force in the 90’s while St Colman’s thrived under the baton of Ray Morgan, who also achieved All Ireland Club success with Burren in the late 80’s.

The St Patrick’s side includes several members of the Derry Minor team from last year, among them imposing full-back Carlus McWilliams.

St Colman’s, who draw their players mainly from south Armagh and of course south Down, have looked impressive this year with Barry Kelly having stepped into the coaching role in place of the injured Cathal Murray, the former Down player having sustained a leg injury that has sidelined him of late.

They face a difficult test, though, against a Maghera side that may carry too much shooting power up front in what should be a lively battle.

The St Mary’s CBS v St Macartan’s Monaghan match will be played next weekend.

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